Improvement in corsets



S. B. FERRIS.

CORSET.

Patented Sept. 12. I876.

WITNESSES moans! N. PETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

" NI'I'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHERWOOD B. FERRIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,019, dated September 12, 1876; application filed August 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Bev it known that I, SHERWOOD B. FERRIs, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented a new and 1mproved Corset, of which the following is a specification: I

Figure 1 is a front view ofmy improved corset,'showing it partly folded open. Fig. 2 is a detail face View on an enlarged scale of one of the pockets that hold the stiffening devices. Fig. 3 is a-detail inner face view of the abdominal support. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail transverse sections of the reversible stay, showing it in different positions.

. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts -in all the figures.

This invention relates to various improvements in corsets; and consists of the details of invention hereinafter more fully pointed out.

The first feature of this invention has reference to an improved reversible stay or spring that is applied along one of the two edgesot the corset, at which the same is buttoned, clasped, or otherwise fastened together. This stay is made reversible, so thatit may be folded over the inner or the outer side of the corset, and it serves, when folded over the outer side, as in Fig. 4, to conceal the fastening devices, and prevent them from injuring the outer garment, while, when folded against the inner side of the springs, as in Fig. 5, it proj tects the body of the wearer.

In the drawing, the letter A represents a corset of suitable construction. a a are the springs or stifi'ening devices extending along its edges, and carrying the clasps or fasteners b b, as shown. B is a broader stay or spring extending along one of the edges of the corset A, and fastened thereto by means of three, more or less, flexible bands, 0 c, that are stitched to the corset and embrace the stay, as clearly shown in1Fig.l. But instead of using the bands 0, the stay may be stitched directly to the corset, or fastened thereto by a continuous pocket, or in other suitable manner. The stay B is about as broad as the two springs to a together, and is attached to the corset along the middle of its width, so that it will overlap both springs in either of its two positions, that are indicated in Figs. 4

and 5. In this way it will, when swung over make somewhat longer than the Whalebone' which they are to receive, and sew themfast to the corset at their two ends, and at one of their longer sides. (See Fig. 2, in which the stitches are represented by dotted lines.) The second side of the pocket I also stitch to the corset, but so as to leave an opening in the middle, through which the stili'ening device maybe inserted. The pockets thus formed possess the advantage that they completely hide the stiffening devices inserted therein, prevent them from dropping out, and still allow their ready Withdrawal through the open side.

Another feature of my invention relates to anadjustable skirt-support, E, that slides upon, and is held by a belt, (I, which surrounds the corset-waist. This skirt-support I have shown to consist of a loop, 6, that embraces the belt d, and holds suspended a hook,f,- but instead of this any other equivalent device for holding the skirt may be substituted on the belt, the essential feature of this part of my invention being the adjusta bility ofthe skirt-support on the waist-belt, which allows the same to be slid to any position where it may be needed. J

The stiffening devices of the corset are protected from moisture, and from the perspiration of the wearer, by placing between the stiffening device or spring 9 and the inner lining of the corset a strip, h, of water-proof material. (Shown at the right-hand side of Fig.1.) This strip h I prefer to attach by the same means that forms the pocket for holding the spring. The water-proof material it may be applied to other parts of the corset when ever the same may prove useful.

Another feature of my invention has for its )bject to enable ladies to make their corsets well-fitting after havingpurchased them, and tlso to enable storekeepers to sell corsets of be same pattern and size to wearers having lifl'erent-sized figures. This object 'I attain )y making the corsets in several distinct sec- ;ions, F-F F, &c., each'section. being matched .0 fit the other or others, to which it is subsequently connected; but these sections are oined only by short stitches or seams m m, which define the proper relative positions. )therwise they are altogether disconnected. Phe corset may be readily completed by the urchaser by completing the proper connec- ;ion of the different sections in their order; md a lady may readily fit a corset to her fig- 1re by causing the sections to overlap more or ess, and thus produce a larger or smaller cor- ;et.

Another feature of my invention has refermce to an improved abdominal support, G, ;hat is, stitched to, and used in connection wi-th,the corset A. This support G consists )f a strip of flexible material i, which contains or carries a series of comparatively-stifl' transverse sections, 9' j, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These sections j are attached tot-he flexible material by means of cords k, that pass through hems formed at the two sides of the flexible strip 11, the hems being partly cut away to allow the springs to engage in eyes Z Z of the stiff sections j. In this way the abdominal support is composed of alternate stiff and flexible sections; The main advantage of an abdominal support of this construction is, that the stifl'sections j j may be shifted and brought nearer together or farther apart, to suit convenience; ormore or less of them may be used.

By drawing the strings .k,the' flexible sections will be caused to overlap, and the sti'fi' sections will thereby be brought nearer together. In this way the wearer may bring the stifl' sections almost side by side, or to as great a distance apart as the width of the flexible. sections will allow, or cause them to overlap.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a corset, A, with the reversible stay B, that is applied to one of its edges, and combined with the springs a a, substantial-lyas-and for purposeherein shown and described.

2. The combination of a corset, A, with the pocket D, which is provided with an opening 5. lncombination with acorset, A, the abdominal support G, that is composed of SME- sections placed onto a flexible belt, 0', substantially as and for thepurpose herein shown and described.

1 SHERWOOD B. FERRIS. Witnesses:

ERNEST O. WEBB, A. V. BRIESEN. 

